It's the middle of the night. She is sitting beside the river Hirang. It's darker than usual today. Only the street lamp, beside the bench she was sitting on, is working the night shift as if it was appreciating how beautiful she was looking, which enhanced thrice the moment she ran away from her marriage ceremony.

It's colder on summer nights. The stones of her white laced corset bodice shine like twinkling stars in the night sky as the lamp light falls on her. She spreads her arms on the bench to the elbows, stays in a half-lying position, and lets out a long sigh as if her soul is taking a deep breath after a long time.

"AUBRIE!!! AUBRIE!!! AUBRIE!!!"

A sudden shout comes from a distance addressing her, making her jolt out. She panics and tries to run away as soon as she can after mumbling to herself, "How did he find me!!!" Just as she was running, that roaring deep voice shouted again, "You know you can't go far, so stop running away." She stops at some thoughts and turns behind. He stops with her at the same time. Both are blowing out air loudly of exertion. She scans here and there with her liner dear like golden eyes.

"There's nobody with me," He says, huffing. "So tell me, Aubrie, why did you run away?" He keeps moving forward with every word. "You know the consequences. Why did you do that, Aubrie?"



She scuffs, "Because you failed to keep your promise, so I had to. Don't tell me you became that dumb that you needed to ask now." She turns back, giving him a frowning look.

"AUBRIE!!!" he shouts her name with more anger. "WATCH YOUR MOUTH!!! Just because you have the ability to be naive as much as you want in everything doesn't mean anyone can neglect their duty like you."

"Alright, Mr. Gavin McLaren," she shrugs. "Sorry for being the most imperfect part of your life. Then why don't you choose someone perfect for you? Why you and your freaking family are after my imperfect self for a perfect CEO of a great Bluraign company!!"

Aubrie keeps strolling on the pavement while Gavin follows her behind, never-ending their miserable, unsolvable arguments. Gavin continues, "So do you have any solution, Aubrie?"

As he approaches her with that question, realizing all their arguments are unsolicited. His tone softens as he calls her name with all the dejection graved inside him, leaving deep scars inside his heart. She stops her steps as Gavin takes a stand in front of her. He couldn't lay his eyes on her, so he kept his sight down on the ground while she looked away, a shred of tears from her left eye rolling down her cheeks.

"Why didn't you run away instead of me, Gavin?" she says with a broken tone. "It should have been you instead, shouldn't it?"

Instead of being a start, this marriage became the end of many dreams of Aubrie and Gavin.

Gavin McLaren, the only son of the well-known reputative family McLaren and also the hair of the country's one of the biggest mercantile companies Bluraign. Not only has he proven his worth to be in the position that he owns by his intelligence in 6 fields, but he also gave a glorious, remarkable position in ranking.

To bring more honor to the family, his only youngest sister, Gloria McLaren, also didn't fall behind as she became a gold medalist in the Olympics and became the country's top swimmer. Despite all the weather and jewelers that one can ever ask for their life, this honored reputative family still might lack an object for the sack of life, which is pulling them back from achieving soulful laughter at the dining table or playful jokes between siblings with nagging in between.

As the night gets chill, stars twinkle like diamonds in the deep black sky with clouds floating like cotton; Aubrie is shaking, wearing a wedding gown that barely covers her shoulders. Gavin comes closer to her, "Tell me Aubrie. What do you expect me to do with all the ties that bind all my limbs? How am I supposed to choose otherwise while everyone already made their choices and left me nothing to choose?" He tucked his coat on her shoulders and shifted according to her measure.

"Then how did I make a move? I would have to think you as arrogant with narcissism if you didn't consider my moves are also been monitored and noted by a lot of people." She glared at him ready to throw any verbal punch if he tried to pull any point against her.

"I do consider and that's why I think you made a foolish choice out of nervousness, out of my generosity. So you need to make it right." He slipped his hands into her. Before she jolted he gripped it tightly and yanked her to his car.

"GAVIN" she shouted.

"Shh" he placed his fingers on her lips. "Aubrie. Try to understand....." he paused for a second and continued, "or don't. But this is not the way to deal with problems. If you have put all your points, and they didn't consider, at least you would have your freedom secure for the rest of your life, then think of this as you have already got your upper hand in almost all decisions in the future."

As much as wrath roared and fury clouded her atmosphere, this statement also forced her to rethink every possible aspect that could walk with it. In the meantime, he closed the door and accelerated the car to the way where she shattered everything.

As soon as she stepped in the hall everyone stood up. She looked at her parents, who were flaming with rage, and his parents, who had a shrewd smirk at the corner of their lips. Gavin raised his hand gesturing to stop coming at her. He tightened his grip,, which wrapped her hand, and moved forward.

"I request everyone to accept our apology for the inconvenience and take a seat to enjoy the ceremony. Thank you." He handed the microphone and demanded the ceremony.

Rage, bitterness, hatred, despair, dejection all hit once as the event kept going. That much of negative emotions might as well leave someone numb that the fake show-off of emotions on the face also be forgotten.

Enthralling like a castle, McLaren's house was worth taking notice of by the media and people. As Gavin placed his foot outside the car, melodious music was played by the ear. He noticed the bodyguards were having a hard time controlling both media and people. He went to the other side of the car door and offered a hand to Aubrie. She threw a glare with questions at him. He smiled, "We don't make extra entertainment before the public, right?"

She fumed with rage and wanted to say a lot, but he was right. So she placed her gloved hand on his palm and walked into the new place. She would eventually call home.

As soon as she arrives at the house, she looks around and calls for the head maid. "Please prepare a room for me." she replied, "Don't worry, mam, your room is already prepared." Aubrie squeezed her face and said, "Separate?" she said, "Oh no, mam. Together. It's sir Gavin's room that is prepared for both of you."

"No, I want you to prepare my own separate room for me," Aubrie stated. The head maid was taken a back, "Uh… Separate personal room…" Ms. Rose, please do as she says." she hurried went to the second floor with some other maidens.

A few minutes later, the head maid takes her to the room. "If you need anything, please call me anytime. I'll be there to help you." Ms. Rose said. "Thank you," Aubrie replied. "Then I'll take my leave. Good night, mam." she bowed and left.

Aubrie freshened up and walked on her rope into the room. She switched off the light before going into the shower. She gets closer to the window through which the silver light of the moon sneaks in. As she opened the windows, the chilling waft kissed her with an aroma of evening primrose. She sat down on the brim, looking at the sky nourished with deep purple and blue and glittering stars, representing her eyes as her tears filled up and soon rolled down her cheeks. "I wonder what I have done so wrong to be born in this family! Just the things I don't want keep happening, and the things I want keep getting distant. What should I do?" *sniff* Her thoughts were cloudy, and she was blue.

She jolted hearing knocks on her door. She whipped her eyes and mumbled, "Who is it at this hour now! Can't even cry peacefully now!"

She opened the door just to give off a disgusted look to "someone."

"Do you really need to make a face every time we see each other?" Gavin said with hurtful eyes.

"Just say what you want now and get lost." she looked away. "I just wanted you to know that tomorrow my aunt is coming with my cousin. She can be a bit cranky, so be well dressed and prepare yourself." he turned and left.